EVER WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO.....

BARBARA BRADSHAW?

I am an inveterate web-surfer. Also, I'm still curious about people in my past. Since working on our 50th Class Reunion handbook in 2007, and discovering that BARBARA was a published author, (SNAKE DANCE - Barbara Bradshaw Rogers) I have searched from time to time to see where she was. I found an old website made when she was going by Rogers - her married name at the time, but it was not current. Then there was an obituary in the Ballinger online newspaper for her brother Cecil Bradshaw, which listed her with the new surname Atherton as a survivor. Another web search turned up an email address for her. I have tried unsuccessfully to contact her. Today as I was clearing out some of my bookmarks, I saw where I saved her address in Tulsa.  A quick search turned up this little jewel. I am not certain when this was put online by the Tulsa Toastmasters' Speakers Bureau, but I have not had my email to her returned to me, so I am assuming BARBARA is still "alive and well" in Tulsa.

BARBARA was one of us girls who used to make the drag when we were Freshmen in PATI COCKRELL'S "little gray bug"! You know, the one with the steering wheel on the right? What crazy fun we had. I am hoping BARBARA reads this and feels the urge to write and fill us in with what she is doing at the present time.

BARBARA BRADSHAW ATHERTON, a humorous motivational speaker for over thirty years, is a dedicated Silver recipient in Toastmasters and a Dale Carnegie graduate. She admits each humorous speech holds a hidden serious message. She is a published author, prize winning poet and short story writer. Barbara is a lively engaging master of ceremonies (M.C.) for any occasion and will speak within a 50 mile radius of Tulsa. HOW TO WRITE YOUR LIFE STORY--- MILITARY HEROES ESPECIALLY STEP FORWARD My SECRET goal would be to have every military person that ever served our country to write, preserve, record or speak about serving our world. These heroes inspire us all. An easy way to start and finish a twenty five page life story is audience participation, fun and lively. THE SECRET COPING SKILL---WE CAN'T SHARE WITH JUST EVERYONE In speaking to groups, those in grief, for caregivers or friends, diagnosed as Barbara is, with a life altering diagnosis, she uses soft wit and sly humor built from her life experiences and empathy, the courage of coping every day. She speaks to grief counseling groups, those surviving loss and tough times with an empathy that comes from experience and caring. THE FIFTH SEASON---PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHOTO-JOURNALLING Old barns? They speak to me. Makes me see my own immortality. The old barn? Me? My mortality. Barbara shares enlarged beautiful photographs taken by her husband John Atherton and reads brief poems she and he wrote connecting to the picture. She shares how you can take your photograph and write little snippets of your own life. ****************************************** Speaking of authors, another one I've been wondering about is GLENN SMITH - his whereabouts since he moved to Mexico, and the status of his book! I got this from him a day or so ago: "I am soon returning to Ballinger. I have sold the house at 602 McCarver Drive in Ballinger, but as irony would have it, I am buying one at 608 McCarver. Guess I am not supposed to get far from the park in Ballinger. My phone number will remain the same. Flint Rock novel number 3, titled Ultimate Thirst, is finished and will be available through Amazon's Kindle book store by the time I and my three dogs leave Mexico for Ballinger in a month. Novel number 4, to be called Stolen Gold, is ready to start and will find Flint Rock operating out of a charming west Texas town called Ballinger. I suspect that Ajijic, Mexico may appear also. There is a no longer worked gold mine, owned by a Russian ballerina till her death, that is in a mountain a thousand yards from downtown Ajijic."  If I remember correctly, GLENN, you had only two dogs when you moved to Mexico! Did you by chance pick up a little Chihuahua? **************************** As I was working on this, I decided to use a much larger font than usual, as GLENN's email was in a large font. He has been having some vision problems, as we all have as we grow older. Let me know if this is better for all of you. Tell me about the good stuff happening in your life! Peace and love, Marilyn

ANOTHER LOSS

Last night ROSALYN URBANTKE HOELSCHER called me to inform me of our classmate JERRYE BROOKS JACKSON's husband's passing. I did not know JERRYE, but I know she had several friends while in BHS. She attended our 50th high school reunion. However, the physical and email addresses for her in the back of your handbook are incorrect now. I do not have a current email address, but ROSALYN gave me her current mailing address, should anyone wish to send her a card:

                    JERRYE BROOKS JACKSON

                    119 N Eisenhower Drive

                    Midland, TX 79703

Please make the correction in your handbook.

Bennie Toy Jackson

Bennie Toy Jackson passed peacefully from this life on February 17, 2014. He was born on January 22, 1937 in Canadian, Texas to Charlie and Zona Ladd Jackson. He married JERRYE BROOKS on March 10, 1956 in Ballinger, Texas. He was employed with Permian Corporation for over 20 years until his retirement. PaPa loved fishing, John Wayne and his Dallas Cowboys, but his most prized possession was his family. He loved the outdoors, attending sporting events for his grandkids and great-grandkids, and he was always their Number 1 fan. He always said his kids and grandkids were as pretty as their Papa. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Charles Jackson and Jim Jackson, and a sister, Bess Randall. He is survived by his wife, Jerrye; children, Larry Jackson and wife Val, of Russellville, Missouri, Bennita Clark and husband Larry, of Midland, Texas, and Mark Jackson and wife Georgia, Midland, Texas; grandchildren, Shawn Berry (Julie), Dave Clark, Heath Clark (Stefanie), Brandon Mitchell (Stephanie), Eric Clark (Allison), Josh Jackson (Elaine), Jarred Mitchell (Amber), Payton Jackson (Amber), Frances Jackson, and Rachel Jackson; great grandchildren, Kaleigh, Dustin, Kate, McKenna, Anthony, Brandi, Matthew, Dacota, Alyssa, Emmaleigh, Kylie, Brady, Karsen, Colby, Xander, Landon, Annie and Abigail; great-great grandchildren, Harper and Cameron; and by numerous nieces and nephews who he loved dearly. Visitation will be Thursday evening, February 20, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 21, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Cuthbert Avenue Baptist Church with Pastor Dean Cook officiating. Interment will take place at the Old Runnels Cemetery, Ballinger, Texas at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, February 21. Donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics – Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.

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Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to JERRYE and her family. It is very difficult to lose a spouse after any length of time, but they were married nearly 60 years.

Peace, love, and good health to you and yours,

Marilyn

ANOTHER CLASSMATE'S LOSS

BALLINGER Mary Alice Harral Cole, 79, of San Angelo, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. She was born on April 7, 1934, in Buckholts, Texas, to Elmer and Hazel (Brown) Harral. She grew up in Ballinger and graduated from Ballinger High School. Mary married Maxie J. Cole, "M.J.", on Aug. 14, 1953. They enjoyed 60 years together, raising two children and being an active part of their grandsons' lives. She was a woman of faith and beauty and the world was a better place when she was in it. Mary was preceded in death by her son, Douglas W. Cole; her parents; her sisters, Ruth Harral and Dorthy Camp; and four brothers, Kenneth Harral, Elmo Harral, Paul Harral and Wayne Cole. She is survived by her husband, MJ; her daughter, Leslie Stegall and husband Larry of Killeen; grandsons David Stegall of Rockport and Christopher Stegall of San Antonio; her sisters, Virginia Egan and husband Mike of Ballinger, Darlene Jones and husband Jimmy of Rockwall, Martha Sherman and husband Dennis of Abilene and Helen Cole of Round Rock; and her brother, Pat Harral and wife Carolyn of San Angelo. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. Arrangements are with Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. 

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I know we all wish to send our prayers and condolences to VIRGINIA HARRAL EGAN on the loss of her sister. I remember Mary as a very sweet and loving woman.

Peace and love,
Marilyn